Current events

The interlocutors discussed an intensive trade and economic cooperation between the two countries and noted significant prospects for its further development. In this regard, they agreed on the need for the earliest possible signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Israel.

President Petro Poroshenko states that Ukraine managed to arrange production of ammunition, and now the enterprises of "Ukroboronprom" are ready for mass production of those types that were scarce until recently.

According to the Head of State, such an appeal as military greetings will be heard for the first time this year on August 24 - on Independence Day of Ukraine during the parade in honor of the anniversary.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko had a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The parties commended approaches to further counteraction to Russian aggression and restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, taking into account recent contacts between the two Heads of State.

The President stressed in particular: "I guarantee that the authorities will not interfere in purely internal church affairs. But I emphasize, however, that other states will not be allowed to do so. For this I consider it absolutely necessary to cut off all the tentacles used by the country-aggressor within our state body".

"The Ecumenical Patriarch cannot remain blind and deaf to the appeals that have been repeated for more than a quarter of a century," Metropolitan Emmanuel said. "Sons of the Ukrainian Church and its leaders have the right to their place among the Churches," he added.

"The Orthodox community of Ukraine is one of the largest in the world and it cannot be an addition to anyone. It must become a star in the "constellation of independent and equal national Churches", which, according to His All Holiness, is the Ecumenical Orthodox Church," the Head of State stressed at the celebration of the 1030th anniversary of Christianization of Ukraine-Rus’.